The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-15
HINDMlh'S FERRY Lever
AN APPEAL REPRESENTATIVE
VISITS THE SITE.
OBJ, creations That Establish the Folly
Of such an Expenditure
OF Money.
THE PLEA OF PROTECTION FROM
OVERFLOW ABSURD.
The Only Claim for Support Flimsy
One at Best-Actual
Facts.

Wolf river, where it is proposed to
build $1,000 levee with the county's
money, an APPEAL representative yes
terdsy visited the scene. The road by
which it Is reached branches off from
the New Raleigh road one mile from
the city, and has the appearance of
being nothing more than a settlement
or spur, tborOughfare. At a distance
of about half mile a sharp incline is
reached, aud the location OF the pro-
posed levee entered upon. The entire
Itch OF bottom was traversed by
the reporter, and cloee survey Of the
surroundings made.
The distance across the bottom is
one mile and quarter, by actual
survey, the rivers course being about
one-half a mile from the northern
edge. From this point there are two
rosds, one leading to the Randolph
road, the oiher to the New Raleigh.
The former is only about one mile dis
tant. the latter not over two. Emery
| ing from the bottom, The residence of
Mr.. MCCallum, about ohe mile distant,
can be plainly seen. His plant alton
OF about 800 acres, skirts the woods for
some distance, and extends back, high
and dry, beyond hie residence. Sur.
rounding him is a srarsely inhabited
settlement, numbering not more than
100 souls all told. These are all near
enough to the two bread and well kept
thoroughfares mentioned above to
reach the city by either OF them with
out any great Inconvenience.
The levee, as at present contem.
plated, is only intended TO extend
from the southern foot hills to the
bridge, and the impression prevails
that this is only about 200 yards. The
distance is three.qusfters of mile If
a foot. In the event of the work stop
ping here, the money would be thu own
away, even should the result be other.
wise beut fetal. Beyond the bridge
the same state OF sffsirs exists during
high water as on this side. The water
rises to hight Of twelve feet over the
surface, and even over flows the bridge,
as is plainly evident from the msrke.
To secure thoroughfare passsble at
all seasons OF the year, q levee would
have to be built sixteen feet high
across the entire bottom and the bridge
changed to conform with the new
roadway.
In ordtr to make the structure suit
able and substantial, lis base should
be full sixty feet wide with crown of
not lees than thirty feet. Measures to
prevent undermining and wearing
away would also become necessary,
the whole capped with solid gravel
bed. The enormous amount OF dirt
required for the main structure would
all have to be hauled from distance,
as there is not sufficient in the vicini.
ty for the purpose.
Another feature of the so.cslled
necessary improvement is that it is
not in line 10 reclaim or protect any
land from overflow. To do this rea-
son suggests that the barrier must in
tervene between the food and threat
ened property. This is by no means
the case with the Wolf river levee, and
the only advantage, therefore, will be
to ford roadway. The road over
which it is proposed to construct the
levee crosses the river in direct line,
and will merely serve as separating
line between the flood of water. This
is the strongest argument against its
construction, and one not heretofore
advanced, because not known.
The object of asking for the levee
only on this side of the river is clear.
A diminutive specimen, sufficiently
large for one which might possibly be
constructed to that point, unless
constructed beyond it, would be prac-
tcslly yslueiees, and to protect the in
vestment smother appropriation must
follow. Half completed, the remainder
is easy. Had the entire amount been
asked it would OF course have been
too enormous to stand the remotest
chance.
But upd r the circumstances $10,-
000 will barely lay the foundation for
suitable levee to the bridges, even
were one necessary at all. To rise
above the water level, it must of ne
cessiiy be sixteen feet high. Being
three.quartera OF a mile lopg, it must
be wide enough on top for vehicles to
pass each other. With the water sap
ping its foundation on either side,
safeguards against this process are in
dispsnsable. 1t does not require a
phencmenai!y scientific mind 10 make
something like an adequate calcula.
ton Of what a this will cost.
1t has also been urged that II the
county will do the main body OF the
work, the residents OF the territory
directly benefited will add Ghe gravel
road bed. Perhaps they made this
nrnn0piiion In 0ood fa;tb huf ay;dant
~ without counting the cost. Aside
from Mr.. McCsllum, Mr.. 6 BISON and q
certain member of the County Court
who owns few acres OF land in the
vicinity, it is not believed that anyone
else will contribute to that object.
These gentlemen are by no means roll
ing in wealth, and the strain upon
them would in all probability throw
the finishing touches back upon the
county.
A view OF the matter entitled to
more prominence than heretofore
given 1t, is the duration OF the over
flow. Throughout the spring, Sum.
mer and fall months the road is in
fairly average condition, and passable
for all travel requiring it, These are
the months when hauling is done, and
consequently the ones when good
reads are a necessity. There are only
about six weeks, or two months at
most, when travel over the road is
suspended by high water, and that in
January aud February, with q few
days Of March thrown in to make up
discrepancies. 1t does appear that
during this brief period the few peo-
pie coming to the city that way might
60 q mile or 30 ont OF the way to pre-
vent an expenditure OF at least $4,000
OF the county's money.
At late session Of the County
Court an appropriation OF $65 was
asked to repair a bad break in the
New Raleigh road, near Raleigh.
Strange to say, nearly every member
OF the court voting for the Hindman
Ferry outlay voted against the other.
The difference in the occasion for the
minor appropriation adds nothing to
the consistency Of the magistrates.
One was an actual necessity to repair
and preserve an cd and constantly
| IL.